Helena weekly herald., 1887-11-03
THE OLD AND THE NEW.
phoenix-Like Resurrection of MIns's
Opera HOuse--The New Temple
of Drama to be Reopened
Tonight.

deserves perpetuation in history we would
suggest that Ming's Opera House be here
after dubbed the Phoenix, for the mag
nifcent new theater to be opened tonight
has arisen, as it were, Phoenix-like from
the ashes of the old opera house; and the
near approach of its second opening sug-
gests retrospective glance and brief re-
view of the times that saw its erection and
Inauguration.
EIGHT YEARS AGO,
when. according to the federal census, the
town of Helena numbered about four
thousand souls, John H. Ming undertook
the erection of an opera house and carried
out the project with his characteristic
enterprise. A stone building, with brick
front, forty feet wide, was put up on jack
son street, and in the summer of 1880 took
definite shape as temple of drama. After
the work was completed, in August of that
year, Ming's Opera House, the first theater
in Montana with boxes, pit and gallery, stood
forth in all its glory as the pride and boast
of Helena and all Montana. And yet it
was crude attempt at theatre, though
not so regarded in those days. The stage
was small, the seats common and ill-ar-
ranged, the boxes supernumerarY eyesores
that soon degenerated into property rooms
and the walls of rough coats of plaster that
were long left in that unfinished state.
Add to this defective arrangements for
heating and ventilation, paucity of stage
and dressing room and a more complete
failure as theatre can scarce be imagined
in these days. But at that time it was re-
gaIded as the crowning triumph of our
city in its march toward metropolitan
NJ oil
was clean and new and withal the people
had lived here so long without anything
approaching it in comfort or convenience
that it entered upon its career gloriously,
with the unanimous appreciation of the
community. In fact it was ahead of the
times. and though well patronized at spells
its owner found it difficult t6make it pay
interest in the first few years of its exist
ence
THE INAUGURATION.
But after this theatrical child was born
the whole community rejoiced over the
nativity and flocked to the christening.
That auspicious event occurred on the night
of September I'd, 1880, and was signalized
by imposing ceremonials. The favOrite
little actress, Katie Putnam, supported by
the Hasenwinkle dramatic company, was
engaged TO tread the boards for the first
time, and Dickens .reat novel dramatiZed,
"Old Curiosity Shop in which Miss Put
nam appeared in the dual role of Little
Nell and the Marchioness, was chosen for
the opening play.
The first night came and all Helena, with
a considerable springling of Territorial Wis
itors, filled the opera house to overtlowing.
At the prices then obtaining the box re-
ceipts loomed up altitudinOusly, and the
new theatre was opened to the first thou
sand dollar house" ever seen In Montana.
committee of gentlemen sat on the stage
and when the audience were all seated
Hon. Martin Maginnis arose and made an
eloquent address, dedicating the new tenn
pie to its proper deity. Then Miss Katie
Putnam charmingly attired and looking
bewitchingly pretty, came from behind the
scenes and, and after being greeted with
enthusiastic applause, read the following
local poem:
POEM READ BY KATIE PUTNAM.
Fair ladies please incline your shell-like ears
And pin yours back, bald-headed pioneers!
When first pilgrim to this town came,
A very fresh and tender-footed dame,
A bridge street cabin was the only stage
Where Farce could or Tragedy could rage;
An earthen foor-the sides of unhewn logs
We charged for men-admittance free Tor dogs
Were interrupted by the pack mules bray,
And prima donna 5 warbe clear
On high "C' and upper register
Was ruined by the Sunday auctloneer
Then Huntley's theatre was built on Wood
And our first circIs called it good.
Rough were the seats-but also were the men,
And all the boys wore buckskin trousers then,
And went in crowds to spend the evening hours,
And cheer the actors. AS there were no mowers
Coins and nuggets to the actress rolled,
She mOyed-DanRe-1n shower OF gOlu.
One ardent miner, struck with Flora Bray,
And with her singing carried quite away,
Heayed her q bull-dog-haylng no bouquet
But sad to say that temple of the Muse
Flared up in fire. like giant powder fuse.
And then Jack Langrishe with his company,
Built a new theatre, furnished gorgeously,
With scenes and flies and very good attire
But all this perished in the first great nre
bran new house arose. then. on Main street.
Large well appointed and complete
Where good old Couldock played for many
In Caleb Plummer and deaf Milky White;
And Waldron, Martin. Gross and Fannie Price,
Richmond, Schiller, Little Grih and Rice
Played many p.ece and sang you many
score,
And Langrishe set the benches ION roar
And Mrs. Langrishe tCOtdd play gushing lnlbSs,
Though better cast to Little Ioddlt klns
One winters morn the deep alarum bel
Awoke us to a sort of mimic hell;
The wild fire blazed above the doomed town
And wood ana stone before its touch eat down,
So pit and circle box and gallery,
Went up in smoke with stage and scenery,
With banks and stores, and buildir g small and
great,
And left the town in ashes desolste.
But pioneers have hearts that never qu II;
The few that's left still camp upon the trail.
Your town from ashes quickly raised her head
But long the Muse remained unsheltered,
And found at last a neat but fiimsy shell,
The best she had-for which she thanks Saw
telle.
So now she steps out on this splendid scene,
Pride in her eyes and rapture in her mien,
Chances with JOY upon the ladies fair
That find sweet comfort in the parquette chalr
The gallery tiers rise pleasant In her sight
When.flled with friends, as she can see to-nlg ht
This solid temple, packed from pit to dome
She proudly halls as fitted for her home
Long may Shakspear face look calmly dowr
While amuse aud teach the listening town;
Long may this audience live to hear and see
Our pranks and jokes and laugh at comedy;
Or when pale Tragedy with knife and bowl,
Wakes passions dire and harrows up the soul,
Still let your tears fall at the piteous part
And take its lessons to the weeping heart.
And now e utsnt let our praises ring.
To our good buider-MAsTER JOHN Fl. MING
After this the orchestra played, the cur
tain rolled up and the delighted audience
followed the sad fortunes of Little Mel
until the curtain dropped upon the first
play produced in Ming's Opera House.
better pleased or more enthusiastic audience
has never since been seen within its walls
4*x
Seven years went Dy and the theatre
was no longer an object of pride. Time
left its imprint in the dingy house, the
tattered scenery and stained walls, and the
city improved as much as the Opera House
deterioratei Then III was that the enter.